USEF Selects Pin Oak Charity Horse Show as First Recipient of Heritage Competition Designation
RELEASE: March 13, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Stacey Meier
Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show as the first competition to receive the honor and designation of a USEF Heritage Competition. Known as one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious horse competitions, Pin Oak has been holding charity horse shows for 64 years and has raised close to $4 million for the Texas Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House of Houston.
“As the first USEF-designated Heritage Competition, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is a showcase event on our competition calendar,” said John Long, USEF’s Chief Executive Officer. “Their tradition in Texas spans 63 years and many of the USEF’s recognized breeds and disciplines. Their charitable contribution to the community is incredible. Pin Oak has showcased our sport and our horses and sets a precedent with both the quality and level of competition. Both were key factors in the designation - as a Federation and a sport - we celebrate what Pin Oak represents.”
The designation of a USEF Heritage Competition is reserved for competitions that have been established for a long period of time and have made a substantial contribution toward the development and promotion of the sport, both within the sport and within the broader community, by achieving, maintaining and promoting the equestrian ideals of sportsmanship and competition.
“We at Pin Oak are honored to be the first show in the country to receive this award,” said Pin Oak Charity Horse Show President Lynn Walsh. “We are extremely proud to be in our 64th year of superb horsemanship, hospitality and charity. Our show brings competitors from all over the world because of our commitment to providing the very best competition in a first-class setting and is organized from top to bottom by volunteers whose love for equestrian events is unsurpassed. Pin Oak Charity Horse Show brings great energy and spirit to our city while raising life-changing funds for our non-profit partners, Texas Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.”
The specific requirements of a Heritage Competition can be found in the USEF Rule Book, GR301.6 or at http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2009/GeneralRules/Chapter%203.pdf
Any competition interested in applying for a Heritage Competition designation must complete the form that is available on the USEF website: http://www.usef.org/documents/competitions/2009/HeritageApplication.pdf
The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show will be held over a two week period at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, starting on March 18, 2009, through March 29, 2009. The show will feature a wide array of equestrian talent including hunters and jumpers, American Saddlebreds, Andalusians, Welsh ponies, and new for 2009, Dressage and the United Mountain Horse breed.
ENDS